Name-plate for umbrellas.



F. G. FARNHAM.

' NAME PLATE FOR UMBRELLAS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1916.

1,246,077. PatentedN0v. 13,1917.

G S Q g Q; "7: a

l msuaarim Inventor: Fr ank a. Far'nhai'n,

' FRANK= GUNN FABNHAM, or I-IO-NESIDALE, PENNSYLVAltTIA-p NAME-ILA'IE ron MnsE LAs.

1T0 azz whom z'tmdy concern. v Be it lmown that IfFnlAnKi G. FAR HAM,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Name-Plates for Umbrellas,.of which the following is a specification. 7 I

My present invention relates to improvements in means for attaching the owners nameto an umbrellastickand its object is to provide means byiw'hich the name may be applied in an economical, expeditious,

and ornamental manner andthe name itself may be formed by quickly assembling and applying the proper letter carryingv elements and which can be cheaply produced and kept in stock in large numbersin department and otherstores.

My invention includes the novel features of construction and combination oi": parts I hereinafter described and particularly defined by the appended claims. I I I j Several embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in

ch, a a

Figure 1 is a side view also of a tubular metal sleeve ada-pted'to" fit the stick of an umbrella and carrying the name forming elements. H Fig. 2 is a section of a metal tubecut off to form one of the character forming elements, but here shown in blank.

Fig, 3 is a period bearing ring. a Fig. l is one of the character bearing rings. I v V Fig. 5 is a perspectiveof Fig. 2. I V Fig. 6 is a cross section of the umbrella stick, the tubular sleeve, and a character bearing element. A I pFig. 7 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing a sufficient portionof an umbrella to.illus-' trate the application ofthe invention. I

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the application of my invention to the tip of an umbrellaor parasol. v I I Fig.'9 is a longitudinal section ofa metal sleeve showing a flange on the handle end which acts as av retainer to the characterv bearing elements after assembling the name. -,Fig. 10 is a side view of the devices attached to, an umbrella handle.

Fig. llis a side view of thesti'ck'end of an umbrella handle,

Fig.12 represents a part of the grip end of mimbrd ndl -l Specification of Letters Patent.-

Application fil ed October 9, 1916. Serial'No. 124,58d'

Patented-Nov. 13, 1917. V

v Fig. 13 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 partly mountedwith a few of the character bearmg elements imposition.

Flg. 14 is a sectional side elevation ofan' parts shown in Figxl2 and 13. a

F i'g. 15 is'a view 'ofa modified form of ring-adapted for name and address. v

I In these drawings 1 designates a section adapted to slip over andsnugly fit the uni-- umbrella handle formed by assembling the V of a thin metal tubular sleeve of a size 7 brella rod'o'r stick. This tubehasalongitudinal slot 2 extending f rom one'e'nd nearly its full'length and a cross cut'21 to permit.

of expansion; A part of jthe sleeve about" one eighth' of an inch'long is not slotted and between this the slotted "portion V a is an annular rib or bead 3 extending around the sleeve whichacts as a rear stop.

'Froma thin metal tube, preferably of brass, are cut the' character bearing rings,

represented by Figs. 2 to5 inclusive! The inner diameter of-these ringsv agrees. with the outside diameter of the sleeve. Fig. 2' represents'afside view of a spacing 7 ring, Fig.3 a period bearingring, and Fig. 4a letter or other character ring. "InFig. 3, 5' indicates the "period seta little below the center line, and in Fig. 4 is shown the letter H, indicated at 6"as representative ofjany one of th'eletters of'the alphabet and which is preferable. Preferablydirectly opposite the'location of letter character a cross section of, the ring is depressed, forming an inside bead or rib'4 which is adaptedtofit and'slide along the dot2 of-the sleeve 1; Allblanks, period' rings and character bearing rings are provided with similar interior ribs whichifit said slot 2. These ribs act as may be in relief or intaglio,,but the former guides and prevent the rings from turning when assembled, thus retaining :the letters in alinement when forming the name. This rib 4"isshallow and indepth corresponds to the thickness of metal wall of the sleeve 1. In Fig. 6 I have shown 'a cross section enlarged of an umbrella stick or rod 10, a sleeve 1, a letter ring 6, a raised letter 6 and the depres'sed'rib 4L. 'Thesleeve 1 has a narrow cross cut 2 to allow for expansion The part1 is about one-eighth of an long and not only acts as a binder fitting the stick rather closely but provides a surface for prick punching as indicated at 1, thus preventing further movement of the sleeve along the stick. In Fig. 9 I have shown a longitudinal section of a sleeve with a flange 1", which holds the rings in position after assembling the name, which is necessary when filling orders by mail. In all sleeves I prefer to let the free end project beyond the last letter ring assembled thereon, about 011e-sixty-fourth of an inch, which corresponds to the thickness of the sleeve wall. This projecting part when crimped back against the assembled rings holds them firmly in place, see 1, Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing a sutficient portion of an umbrella to illustratethe application of the invention and in which 10 is the stick or rod, 11 the lower stop, 12 the runner, 12 the stretcher connect-ion, 1-3 stretchers, 14 the handle, 15 ferrule. A sleeve is shown mounted on the rod with a name F. G. Farnham partly appearing thereon.

A portion is cut' away showing portions of the rod, sleeve, and rings, H being blanks, 1 a prick punch mark, 1 the flange. In Fig. 8 a shorter name, W. 13. Hull, with the usual number of blanks and period rings are shown assembled onto a shorter sleeve and place onthe tip of an umbrella. In this method of applying it is i not necessary to remove the handle 1%, which is required in Fig. 7.

The letter rings indicated in Fig. 9 are cut 05 from thin metal tubing, the letters being formed byqmeans of suitable dies either before or after cutting off. Period rings are also provided, (Fig. 3) and spreader rings, (Fig. 2) the former for separating the initials 01" the name, the latter for filling up any unused space. In forming the fianged sleeves, (Fig. l) I may make them sutliciently long to take a name 7 of thirteen or more letters with two initials and two period rings, for shorter names the extra space may be occupied by filler rings. Different lengths of sleeves may be provided, however, to correspond to the number of letters in a name.

I l here a great number of names are to be fitted to umbrella sticks, for instance in a large department store, tents of letter rings of each letter of the alphabet, with period and spreader rings could be kept in stock for forming names of from three to fifteen letters with initials and also the symbol 61' for use in forming the name of a company.

a It will beunderstood that the great majority or umbrellas have their handles attached at the factory where made. Some, however, have no handles, the purchaser selecting his handle from the store stock, it then being attached by thesalesman. Others have detachable and interchangeable handles. My invention applies in either class,

but in the first named the handle must first be removed, which is easily and quickly done by means of a small vise, a hammer, and a piece of wood, In replacing the handle, a cement of some kind is used, generally shellac varnish 'bein' 8111310 ed for this D purpose. I

lVliile 1n Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown all the longest name, thirteen letters, including 0 two initials.

I estimate that three sleeves only of different lengths will be necessary. For instance, the name J. A. Dix, five letters, two period rings, and two fillc'r rings; the name W. B. Hull, siX letters, two'period rings, and one filler ring, and the name C. H. Smith, six letters, two' period rings, and no fillers. This comprises one set of names, all on the same sleeve. The next longer sleeve will take names of eight, nine and ten letters, including two initials, and the third sleeve,- still longer, will take eleven, twelve, and thirteen letters, including two initial l'etterrin gs, two period rings, and no fillers.

It is evident that an umbrella handle, Fig. 10, is one of the main important'units necessary to make a complete article, and, as such, I have shown the invention applied to the handle. The drawing shows a bend to form the grip, l4, and the handlemay be straight, with or without "a knob, and in cross section round, square,'or octagon. In other than, a round shape the character rings would conform thereto, but the best results are obtained by rabbeting that part of the handle, 14:, to which the sleeve is to be fitted. In this case, the name is first assembled on the sleeve, and then forced onto the rabbeted part 14;. A ferrule 15, is then fitted to the unoccupied part, holding the sleeve, with its accompanying elements,in position. I

While I have shown the stick part of the handle, 14; as rabbeted, it is not always necessary to rabbet this part. The stick end of the handle varies in diameter from one-half inch to three-fourths of an inch and are turned true, in which case the sleeve may be made to fit over this part without rabbeting. The sleeves and character rings would be made to fit the various sizes. I estimate that it will require three sizes of sleeves to fitthe different diameters of handles, with its accompanying elements. Material, finish, etcpwould conform to that portion of the specificationsrelating to same. Practically the only dilference between the application of the invention to the handle is that of size, the various elements being larger. For instance, the character rings would be atrifle wider, five-thirty-seconds of an inch, instead of one-eighth of an inch, and larger in diameter to fit a larger sleeve. In this construction the handles'would be fitted to the sleeves at the handle factories, where they make handles only, and then fitted and mounted by the retailer. In the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11 it will be understood that the groove to receive'the beads of the rings is formed directly in the rabbeted portion of the handle as indicated at 0 Instead of applying the rings to the rab-W beted portion I may form the handle in two parts as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

In these figures 20 designates the handle having a rabbeted portion on which is applied a sleeve 21 and 22 designates a wooden cylinder or supplemental handle portion in which is provided a ferrule 23 and into which the umbrella rod 10 is fitted or driven. The cylinder 22 is designed to have the rings threaded thereon in name forming order and thereafter the cylinder is inserted in the sleeve 21 and secured in place. The

.cylinder 22 is provided with a groove 22 to receive the beads of the rings which are clamped between the end of ferrule 23 an the end of sleeve 21. I

When it is desired to have the rings bear both the name and address of the owner I prefer to form them in the manner shown in Fig. 15 in which they are provided with alternate reversely arranged wide narrow portions, the wide portions of one set of rings coming uppermost and, when assembled forming the owners name, and the wide portions of the. other set lying between the narrow portions of the first set and bearing the address. This arrangement enables me to apply the name and address without unduly lengthening the aggregate rings.

The invention is shown and described as applying in particular to the stick and han- ,dle of an umbrella. It may however, be ap- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for character carrying rings threaded on said tube and havlng lnwardly struck portions forming ribs to engage sald groove.

3. As an article of manufacture a carry-' ing tube of sheetmetal having a longitudinal groove, and a plurality of independent nal groove extending from one end thereof,

an annular stop flange at the inner end, of said tube, and a plurality of independent character carrying rings threaded on said tube and abutting each other and said stop flange, said rings having inwardly projected ribs engaging said groove.

4:. As an article of manufacture, a carrV- ing tube of sheet metal having a longitu inal slot extending from one end partway the length of the tube, there being a transverse slot at the inner end of said longitudinal slot, and a plurality .of character forming rings having ribs engaging said longitudinal slot. o

5. In combination with an umbrella stick or handle, a carrying tube applied to said stick, having an annular flange atone end and a plurality of independent character bearing rings non-rotatably held on said tube, and confined between said flange and a part of the stick or handle.

6. In combination with a cylindrical part on an umbrella, a plurality of character bearing rings threaded thereon, said rings having alternate wide and narrow. portions with characters on the wide portions.

I FRANK GUNN FARNHAM.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

